So much left to discover

Easily one of Burma’s most photographed sights, U Bein is the oldest and longest teakwood bridge in the world, stretching close to 1200 meters across Taungthaman Lake. I captured this shot right before sunset, as my small boat manoeuvred around the lake. The soft light was just magnificent. This was truly one of those magical moments that filled my soul, and that I will cherish forever.

Creative composition of an old wooden ladder at Sheikh Zayed's old palace in Al Ain. It was the former home of the late UAE founder, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The Palace was once a political and social hub. Built in 1937 and then renovated in 1998, the building finally became a museum in 2001 and now houses a large collection of material about the ruling family. It was quite interesting to see how they lived back then!

Daxu is an ancient town dating back to more than 2000 years, founded during the Qin Dynasty. It thrived as a leading trade and commercial hub due to its close proximity to the Li River. The thirteen docks that can still be seen in Daxu today are the remnants of this former golden age.

During my visit, I met this farmer, who kindly invited me to his home and should me how he made tofu from soybeans. A passionate yueqin player, he also loved traditional Chinese calligraphy. Traditions were evident everywhere I looked, from the grinding stones that pressed the soybeans to the brick walls and portraits of Mao adorning this century-old house.

The Grand Mosque in Muscat is one of the most beautiful and extravagant modern mosques in the world. It first opened in 2001 and took six years to build. It features an amazing blend of Islamic, Middle Eastern, and Omani architectural styles, and also hosts one of the world’s largest handmade Persian rugs and one of the world’s biggest chandeliers, with 600,000 shining bright Swarovski crystals and weighing some 8,5 tons!

Home to many artists, including Salvador Dalí, Amedeo Modigliani, Claude Monet, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Piet Mondrian, Pablo Picasso, Camille Pissarro and Vincent van Gogh to name a few, not many can afford to live there anymore these days. I highly recommend just getting lost (with a map to find your way out) in the steep and cobbled streets of one of the most historic and interesting neighborhoods in Paris.

Only 30 minutes or so from the bustling Kyoto city center, the towering bamboo forest is an almost shocking contrast to the urbanity surrounding it. Wooden paths weave through the dense thicket of tall bamboo stalks that reach dozens of feet into the sky, creating a canopy. The absolutely gorgeous forest of skinny bamboo trunks is the heroin chic of wooded glades. As the wind passes through the tightly packed plants, the wood bends and creaks, the leaves rustle, and the trunks knock together, creating a peaceful sound like almost nothing else.

London’s Brick Lane has a fascinating history and is one of the most popular places to visit in the East End today. Brick Lane used to be a poor slum area in the past and was in the very heart of Jack the Ripper territory.

The street might have gotten its name when brick and tile manufacturers set up shop in the 15th century. The street later became a popular location for breweries. The famous brewing family, the Trumans, started their business there. Its proximity to Spitalfields saw an influx of French Huguenots when they were driven out of France, also in the 17th century. The street and the surrounding area became well known for its weaving and tailoring. Like much of the East End, this area was a haven for immigrants moving into London to escape persecution abroad or looking for a better life. During the 19th and 20th centuries, it was best known for its Irish and Jewish population.

Today, the community living in and around Brick Lane is predominantly Bangladeshi. The street is a great place to go for a curry, especially if you want to try traditional and authentic cooking!

Alicante celebrates the arrival of summer with the Bonfires of San Juan. In an atmosphere of music, color, fireworks and extravagance, thousands of people experience this annual fiesta which pays tribute to fire. The celebrations conclude the night of the 24th, effigies (ninots) are burnt to the ground all around the city. It's truly an amazing experience!

Alicante celebrates the arrival of summer with the Bonfires of San Juan. In an atmosphere of music, color, fireworks and extravagance, thousands of people experience this annual fiesta which pays tribute to fire. The celebrations conclude the night of the 24th, effigies (ninots) are burnt to the ground all around the city. It's truly an amazing experience!

Alicante celebrates the arrival of summer with the Bonfires of San Juan. In an atmosphere of music, color, fireworks and extravagance, thousands of people experience this annual fiesta which pays tribute to fire. The celebrations conclude the night of the 24th, effigies (ninots) are burnt to the ground all around the city. It's truly an amazing experience!

Alicante celebrates the arrival of summer with the Bonfires of San Juan. In an atmosphere of music, color, fireworks and extravagance, thousands of people experience this annual fiesta which pays tribute to fire. The celebrations conclude the night of the 24th, effigies (ninots) are burnt to the ground all around the city. It's truly an amazing experience!

In just over 2 months, the terraced rice fields of Sapa will be turning to gold, ready to be harvested. The region is host to many hill tribes, lush vegetation, and Fansipan, the highest peak in Vietnam. During my 6 hours trek into the valley below the old French colonial outpost, I came across some of the country's friendliest people and breathtaking landscapes!

Located deep in the Omo Valley, the village of Key Afer holds a market every Thursday, attracting tribal minorities such as the Ari, Bonna and Tsemay people who come for livestock. I was surprised to see how colorful the market was, from the local shops to the traditional clothes worn by the different tribes. Exploring Ethiopia with National Geographic Expeditions was really an eye-opener, allowing me to discover a lot about the southern minorities, and how the growing tourism industry is changing their daily lives.

I really miss casting off and raising the mainsail for a beautiful day out on the water. Being able to completely disconnect allowed me to add some perspective to my thoughts, reaching difficult conclusions and making life-changing decisions. I composed this photograph several years ago, on a sailing trip in the Mediterranean Sea off the Spanish Costa Blanca.

One of the main objectives from my trip to Japan was to capture the row of vermilion torii gates that straddle the paths at Fushimi Inari Shrine. Since early Japan, Inari was seen as the patron of business, traditionally worshiped by merchants and manufacturers. Each of the torii at Fushimi Inari Taisha is donated by a Japanese business. First and foremost, though, Inari is the god of rice.

Due to the extreme popularity of the site, the only way to avoid the masses and “pull off” the shot was to get there early in the morning, as soon as the shrine opened to the public.

Located in the heart and soul of Santiago, a few steps away from the historical Parque Cespedes, this tiny shop sells all kinds of souvenirs, from half-century old books to vinyl records, military medals or political stickers. Recognizing the opportunity for a creative composition, I strike up a conversation with the shopkeeper, who agrees to pose for me at the entrance, pretending to read a book that he later gave to me. It was a challenging photograph to make, requiring exposure bracketing to maintain details from the dark interior, as well as the from the bright street outside, resulting in a natural looking HDR.

Founded in January 1817, Gibara is also known as "La Villa Blanca" from the color of its colonial architecture and well-planned layout of its streets, houses and parks. Nowadays, the old quarter is full of colorful houses, providing the perfect backdrop for my composition of this "máquina", so typical to see in the streets of Cuba.

The Caribbean never ceases to take my breath away, with its pristine sandy beaches, turquoise water and tropical weather, allowing us to escape our realities if only for a few days. I captured this blissful scene on the iPhone, which came in extremely handy on the beach, allowing me to walk around without carrying my Leica M or my heavy Canon DSLR.

Founded as San Isidoro de Holguín in 1545, the city was named after its founder Captain García Holguín, a Spanish military officer. Holguin is now the third largest city in Cuba and renown for its city parks and squares. I composed this scene of two classic "maquinas" at Parque Calixto Garcia, in front of the old department store called La Epoca, which made for the perfect backdrop for this beautiful 1952 Chevy Bel Air.

I shot this portrait of a Cuban farmer on my way back from Santiago, as he was struggling to keep his cows from crossing the road. The setting sun was bathing the countryside in an amazing light, so I just had to jump out of the car and capture this. It never ceases to amaze me how friendly most Cubans are, being more than happy to pose as I capture their portraits.

Founded in January 1817, Gibara is also known as "La Villa Blanca" from the color of its colonial architecture and well-planned layout of its streets, houses and parks. I composed this typical scene in a local government office inside an old colonial building. What really caught my eye was the contrast between the plain wooden wall, decorated only with the Cuban flag, the empty chairs around the single table with its flowers facing towards the light, and then the rich floor tiles, reminiscent of a different time...

Founded in January 1817, Gibara is also known as "La Villa Blanca" from the color of its colonial architecture and well-planned layout of its streets, houses and parks. Even so, Gibara's biggest asset, according to visitors, are its people, which are described as cooperative, friendly, affectionate, and proud of their village and of its history. It is said that Admiral Christopher Columbus had remarked of Gibara's environs that “it is the most beautiful land that human eyes saw.”

On the road to Gibara, a local fishing town on the northeastern side of Cuba, we passed many "maquinas", or "Yank tanks". There are still an estimated 60,000 of them still driving the Cuban roads today, taxiing locals and tourists from town to town.

Today we hired a classic car to drive us from Pesquero to Holguin, and stopped on the way to pickup some fresh fruits. I made this composition of my wife choosing a ripe pineapple. I am so happy to see these private businesses flourish around the country.

We felt like we got a taste summer this weekend, with the perfect weather to get out! We headed to Portobello Road Market, in the heart of colorful Notting Hill. While making my photos, I am always on the lookout for creative compositions. Here, I used colors to create an interesting image. Take these colors away, and the composition simply doesn't work.

I captured this portrait of Ayesha in the soft golden light as the sun rose over the sand dunes of the Arabian Desert. This is one of the largest continuous bodies of sand in the world, stretching from Iraq to Yemen, from Egypt to Oman. Dubai has created the Emirates' first national park, dedicated to conserving the natural beauty and diversity of the Arabian Desert. The Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve is an amazing place created for the protection of those endangered species and for the conservation of the natural desert habitat and heritage.

The Bull Ring is a major commercial area of central Birmingham. It’s been an important feature of the city since the Middle Ages, when its market was first held. Masterplanned and designed by Benoy, the new Bullring Shopping Centre opened its doors in 2003, to huge crowds. Even today, the architecture is an eye catcher, with its 15,000 shiny aluminium discs, inspired by a Paco Rabanne sequinned dress.

London is always full of photographic opportunities! I made this long exposure (handheld) over at Charring Cross, just as the diminishing ambient light allowed me to "drag the shutter", capturing this city’s constant movement, using the iconic "call boxes" to frame my composition.

The Temple of Heaven is a medieval complex of religious buildings situated in the southeastern part of central Beijing. The complex was visited by the Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties for annual ceremonies of prayer to Heaven for good harvest. It’s now visited by millions each year. This is my favorite composition of the place, however not taken at the best time… I guess I’ll have to come back!

The National Capitol Building in Havana, was the seat of government in Cuba until after the Cuban Revolution in 1959, and is now home to the Cuban Academy of Sciences. It’s also home to the world's third largest indoor statue, La Estatua de la República. Day or night, the area around the Capitolio is just fascinating and full of life, from the old maquinas parked in front to the lush parks and their amazing storytellers. I captured this view of the Capitolio from the Parque Central.

While looking back through my photo archive, and I came across this portrait of my niece Marilou, taken 8 years ago. It's really kind of scary how fast children seem to be growing up! Peering over this image, I am reminded of a famous quote by Walt Streightiff, who said:

"There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million."

The best bread I've ever had came from the local breadmaker in the small village of Provence where I grew up in. Last month I was fortunate to escape the big city stress and flew to southern France for a weekend. It was a short break but it brought back so many memories of my childhood as well as priceless moments with my family.

Built alongside the Nervion River, which runs through the Basque city of Bilbao to the Cantabrian Sea, the Guggenheim Museum of modern and contemporary art, designed by Frank Gehry, has often been hailed as the most important structure of its time when it opened in 1997. Because of their mathematical complexity, the sinuous curves were designed using a three-dimensional design software called Catia, which allowed designs and calculations that, years earlier, had not been possible. The 33,000 extremely thin titanium sheets provide a rough and organic effect, adding to the material’s color changes depending on the weather and light conditions making the entire structure an amazing work of art!

Located on the north bank of the Perfume River in the village of Huong Long, not far from the city of Hue, Thien Mu Pagoda is one of the most beautiful and well-preserved religious sites in Vietnam.

The pagoda’s name translates to “Heavenly Lady”, referring to a legend that an old woman had appeared on the hill, telling the locals about a Lord who would build a pagoda on that very site.

When Hue’s governor Lord Nguyen Hoang passed through and heard about the legend, he decided to fulfill the prophecy himself. In 1601, he ordered the construction of Thien Mu pagoda, at that point a rather simple structure, which was added on to and improved by his successors such as the octagonal seven-level tower, now the most prominent single structure in the pagoda; standing 21 meters above the crest of the hill, it's visible from far away.

I came across this group of novice monks while attending the festival of lights, a celebration held each November throughout the country. At midnight, on the day of the full moon, 9999 candles are ceremoniously lit. What an amazing experience!

I made this iPhone capture on my commute to the office, as the City quickly awakes and everyone hustles to work. The early morning hours are usually my favorite time to get these snaps, as the light seems magical, cutting through the retreating shadows.

Keukenhof, also known as the Garden of Europe, is considered the world's most beautiful spring gardens with more than seven million tulips, daffodils and hyacinths filling over 32 hectares with incredible colors. Timing your visit is a must if you are going to avoid the big crowds!

One of the highlights of my trip to China was to meet the famous cormorant fishermen of Guilin. Even if the water is too polluted now for fishing to be sustainable, these fishermen remain icons of some sort in this area, prized by many photographers, yet they remain as graceful as ever, even with old age. Their art will eventually be lost, as new generations take over, turning traditions into simple tourist attractions. I’m so glad and honored to have been able to meet the authentic, original cormorant fishermen of Guilin.

Also known as the Great Indian Desert or Marusthali (Land of the dead), the Thar Desert forms a natural boundary between India and Pakistan.

We reached the famous Sam Sand Dunes on camelback, in time to witness the striking beauty of the soft and soothing light at sunset, when the sand turns to gold and the shadows begin to reveal the intricate patterns left by the wind.

This is one my favorite "secret" bars in London!
Cahoots is a small cocktail bar, located in what seems like an old abandoned tube station which also served as an air raid shelter in WW2. The entire place is decorated in a post-war context, from the music to the way to the waitresses were dressed. It's such an extraordinary experience that even return clients usually come dressed up, immersing themselves even more in what seems like a scene from an old movie!

I made this composition over 10 years ago, before I started getting into Travel Photography and storytelling. As I revisit my image archive every now and again, this photo always catches my eye. Taken one spring evening at dusk, I tried to capture how the colorful sky contrasted with the growing shadows. In the middle of all the darkness, the runway lights of Alicante airport seemed to invite me to take off, spread my wings, and discover the world!

Getting back into photography, after spending many years without touching a camera, was a true blessing, allowing me to evolve both as an artist and as a person into who I am today.

Considered one of the top three sites in all of Japan, the Itsukushima Torii appears to float when observed at high tide, adding to the sense of place of this incredible and sacred shrine.

The key elements seemed to come together, the light, the tide, the sky, the clouds... I managed to pull a 30 second exposure at mid-day using a 10-stop neutral density filter, along with a 0.3 soft graduated filter, smoothing out the water and capturing the slight movement of the clouds.

Most weavers in Varanasi are Momin Ansari Muslims. Their craft has been passed on from father to son for generations, hand-weaving silk on room-sized foot-powered looms, making the very fashionable Banarasi silk Saree, which many Indian girls dream of wearing for their wedding day.

I shot this portrait of Maria in Misfat Al Abriyeen, a unique mud brick mountainous village located some 1,000m above sea level on the mountain foothills surrounding wilayat Al Hamra. This village was perched above amazing agricultural terraces, old houses built on top of solid rocks. As I lost myself in its narrow alleys, I couldn't help but notice the old wooden doors, so creatively decorated so many years ago.

The tradition of horse-drawn carriages in Cuba has its origins in the 15th century, when they were introduced on the island by the Spanish, who used them to haul freight. Today, with the shortage of cars, buses and fossil fuels, these “coches” have become the primary means of transportation for most cubans leaving outside the capital. Depending on where, what kind of cart, and the distance to be travelled, the cost ranges from 2 to 10 pesos per passenger (10 to 50 cents of a dollar).

Ho Chi Minh City, commonly known as Saigon, is a city in southern Vietnam famous for the pivotal role it played in the Vietnam War. It's also known for its French colonial architecture, including Notre-Dame Basilica, made entirely of materials imported from France, and the neoclassical Saigon Central Post Office. Food stalls line the city’s streets, especially around bustling the Cho Ben Thanh market, an incredible place where I just loved to get lost for hours, wandering around the different stalls selling anything from food to cheap t-shirts and colorful handbags.